I'm sure you've all heard of this by now: https://shop.atlasrr.com/blog.aspx In particular this quote from the above link: "Atlas has received notification from one of our locomotive and rolling stock suppliers that they have closed their factory. (Please note Atlas track and accessories are NOT affected by this delay.) Atlas is currently working with our network of suppliers to transfer the projects to others for completion. This will cause a delay in some previously ordered products. We apologize for this delay, thank you for your continued support, and will update you with more information as it becomes available." What a tangled web model railroad manufacturers have woven. Andre
This is also impacting ( at least ) Intermountain and Fox Valley Models. As to the assertion that this is what happens when you depend on Chinese production facilities, something similar could certainly happen with a US based production facility as well. In this case, I understand the factory owner closed due to health issues. Health, retirements, and weather have all sidelined Model manufacturers in my time in this hobby, and at times these have appeared to be sudden shutdowns, at least from an outside observers point of view. Paul
Paul, Comparing manufacturing in the US with manufacturing in China is comparing apples to oranges. The government in China controls manufacturing to a far greater degree than would ever be allowed in the US. ALL manufacturing in China is at the sufferance of the government. We have shipped so much of our manufacturing in so many fields to China and other countries in that region that control of what is manufactured for our markets is no longer in the hands of companies in the US. I will climb down off my soapbox now and hope that I have not offended anyone. This has become a pet peeve of mine over the last 50 some odd years that I have been a part of our criminal justice system and read many articles on the various economics systems as part of keeping my professional knowledge up to date. A retired old grump, Robert
Thus far, these are the companies affected that can be confirmed: Atlas; Intermountain; Bowser; Fox Valley; and now Bluford Shops Andre
Well that's disappointing to say the least. If I remember right the same thing happened 5 or 6 years ago. At least it doesn't impact the track production. My layout is on hold until they get code 83 track back in stock. It's irritating that they never seem to manage their inventory on code 83 track very well. I think before this announcement we were expecting to see the SD38-2's arrive this fall but they're pushed off for now. Anyone know if Athearn is impacted by this?
Athearn, ScaleTrains, and Rapido all said they use different suppliers than AFFA, (the plant that closed) thus they are not affected. Bachmann has their own factory, so they should not be affected. Andre
